Fare box



Sept; 28, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON FARE BOX Filed Jan. 10, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 MED :25 Ewes 077%027 80 71.

Sept. 28, 1937.

E. H. THOMPSON FARE' BOX Filed Jan. 10, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 n mWH a w\ Y u q m 4 J 4 0K R Wm lwub K Wm r N m J T Q LE? q mm a T 3 am 3 3 IILFP \QN .mK .L/ f S o uh h um mm W my m o) \N l l N m-m rmwfl/ Mg 0 0% Q w. .9 Q f [mm J r Se t. 28, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON I 2,094,029

' v FARE BOX Filed Jan. 10, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 V & w

4 [.93 5 IIZEM 5572 U5, A3 1% @v 15 Jrwe f H p 5 & 5.

Sept. 1937. E. H. THOMPSON 2,094,029

FARE BOX Filed Jan. 10, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 28, 1937. E. H. THOMPSON FARE BOX 7 Sheds-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 10, 1935 M E47 U Eyes /7 %027/ Patented Sept. .28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE 17 Claims.

My invention relates to fare boxes of the type disclosed in my Patent No, 1,394,071, issued January 10, 1933, which fare box is designed to separately register coins, each representing a cash fare, and fare tokens of less diameter than that of the fare coins.

An, important object of the present invention is to produce a fare box of the type referred to above which will on separate registers count deposited cash and a. plurality of tokens representing different fare values, and where a cash fare cannot be met by a single coin but requires several coins, as, for example, where a cash fare is seven cents and either two pennies and a nickel must be deposited or seven pennies must be deposited to meet the fare.

Another important object is to provide indicating means from which the conductor or other attendant may note whether suilicient cash has been deposited by a passenger or patron to pay for one fare or to pay for a certain number of fares.

A further object is to provide fare payment indicating means, preferably audible, to sound once for each cash fare deposited, and whether coins for a single fare are deposited or whether more or different coins are deposited to pay for a plurality of fares.

A further important object is to provide a more simple and efiicient selecting means for selecting for operation one of a number of registers for counting a deposit, one of the registers counting deposited cash, and deposited tokens being each counted by a separate register.

A still further object is to provide simplified setting means controlled by the diameter of a deposit, whether a coin or token, for setting the selecting mechanism for selecting for operation of the corresponding register.

Another important object of the invention is the combination of the selecting mechanism and the registering mechanism into a compact unitary structure which may be readily removed from the housing for inspection, adjusting or repairs.

The above referred to and other features of my invention are shown incorporated in the structure disclosed on the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the fare box;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear elevation with the cover removed;

Figure 4 is a section on plane IVIV Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged rear View of the selective and register mechanism assembly;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on plane VIVI Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an inner side view of the register assembly looking at plane VIIVII Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a left end view of the structure shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end view of the selector mechanism assembly looking at plane IX-IX Figure 5;

Figure 10 is an enlarged side view of the bell striker controlling train;

Figure 11 is a view of striker resetting mechanism looking at plane XIXI Figure 5;

Figure 12 is an, enlarged section on plane XIIXII Figure 5 showing the striker mechanism and releasing and resetting means therefor;

Figure 13 is a section on plane X[II-XIII Figure 6;

Figure 14 is a section on plane XIVXIV Figure 6;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view of the selector train shown in Figure 6;

Figure 16 is a side view of one of the selector mechanism driving gears and a pawl camming member associated therewith;

Figure 1'7 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the parts in position just before release of the gear operating pawl;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the pawl just released and meshing with the driving gear;

Figure 19 is an elevation of the deposit receiving and impeller mechanism with the impeller carriage removed;

Figure 20 is a section on plane XX-XX Figure 19.

Figure 21 is an enlarged view of the selector member setting leverage controlled by the diameter of a deposited coin or token.

The operating structure comprises deposit receiving and impeller mechanism, designated as a whole I; selective mechanism, designated as a whole S; register mechanism, designated as a whole R, and power driving means, designated as a whole D. These various operating mechanisms are all contained within a housing I. In the arrangement shown, the power driving means D is located at one side of the housing with the deposit receiving and impeller mechanism I alongside thereof, while the selective and register mechanisms are combined in a unitary structure located in the housing below the power driving and impeller means.

The deposit receiving and impeller mechanism The structure and operation of the receiving and impeller mechanism is best shown in Figures 19 to 21. The body of the structure comprises a front plate 2, a rear plate 3, and a spacing plate 4, the plates being rigidly secured together and the spacing plate being cut away to leave the coin chute 5 which is open at the top to the exterior of the housing for the insertion of coins or tokens.

The front plate 2 has upper and lower forwardly extending flanges 6 and 7 between which extend the guide rods 8 and 9 for supporting the impeller carriage ill for vertical reciprocation, upper and lower ears II and I2 on the carriage receiving the rods. the side walls of the impeller carriage l and through vertical slots l3 and M in the impeller mechanism supporting body are arms l and 16 which at their outer ends receive a cam shaft 17 on which is the cam roller l8. Extending horizontally through the upper part of the impeller carriage and journalled in the side walls thereof is a shaft l9 on which the impeller frame 20 is hung by means of its guide ears 2|. A coil spring 22 encircles the shaft and abuts against the carriage and the impeller member and tends to swing the impeller member towards the coin chute 5.

The lower end 23 of the impeller member forms a flat shoe for engagement against the front wall 2, abutment flanges 2 3 and 25 projecting from the shoe through longitudinal slots 26 and 21 in the wall 2 when the shoe is in engagement with the wall. However, when the impeller carriage is at the upper part of its stroke, the impeller shoe is held away from the wall 2 by its engagement with a cam boss 28 on the wall 2. After the initial short downward movement of the impeller carriage, the impeller shoe leaves the cam boss so that the spring 22 may swing the impeller for engagement of the shoe with the wall 2 and for the projection of the abutment flanges 24 and 25 into the coin chute 5 for cooperation with deposited coins or tokens, as will be explained in detail later.

Secured against the rear side of the wall 3 at the bottom thereof is a U-shaped bracket 29 between which sides is supported a shaft 30 on which is mounted a frame 3i supporting a block 32 of insulating material. At its upper end the insulating block has a longitudinally extending slot 33 forming legs 34 and 35. At their ends the legs 34 and 35 have upper short contact pins 36 and 31, respectively, and below these short pins, longer contact pins 38 and 39 extend from the legs. The short pins extend through slots if! in the wall 3 for engagement with the face of a deposited coin or token, these slots being in registration with the slots 26 and 27 in the front wall 2. The longer pins are of suflicient length to extend through the registering slots for engagement with the lower edge of a deposited coin or token to forma support therefor.

A spring 52 tends to hold the frame 3! and insulating block swung upwardly and inwardly into position to receive and support a coin or token immediately after deposit thereof, the coin then electrically connecting the pins 36 and 38 with the pins 31 and 39 for closing an electrical circuit. The pins 36 and 38 are in contact with the frame 3| which forms the grounded terminal for the electrical circuit, the pins 31 and 39 being contacted by a plate 43 which forms the other terminal of the circuit which will be referred to more in detail later.

Receiving at its upper end the shaft H is a link 44 which at its lower end has the longitudinal slot 35 receiving the pin 46 extending from the arm ll on the frame 3! which supports the insulating block 32. When the impeller carriage is in its uppermost position, the upper end of the slot 45 will be above the pin 46 and the insulat- Extending rearwardly from ing contact block will remain in its inner position with its contact posts within the coin chute 5. However, after an initial downward movement of the impeller carriage, the slot will reach the pin and thereafter the frame 3! and the supported insulating block will be swung; downward to withdraw the contact posts from the coin chute for releasing a coin or token for further downward movement thereof in the coin chute.

The coin retaining and guiding lever structure is substantially the same as that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,896,649, issued February 7, 1933. It comprises a cam lever 48 hinged on a shaft 49 supported in the bracket 53 secured to the rear wall 3 above the camshaft ii, the cam lever extending downwardly below the cam roller 58 for engagement thereby. Between the cam lever and the plate 3 is the pressure lever 5i also hinged on the shaft 49. Between the cam lever and the pressure lever is the guide and retaining lever 52 which at its upper end has fulcrum connection with the lever 5!, as indicated at 53, a spring 5 3 tending to hold the lever 52 against the lever 5!. A coil spring is anchored at one end to the bracket 50 and at its other end engages with the lever structures 53 and 5| to normally yieldingly hold said structures in outwardly swung position away from the coin chute.

During initial downward movement of the impeller carriage i U and before the contact pin supporting structure is swung away from the coin chute, the cam roller is engages with the cam lever 48 to swing the lever structure for engagement with a deposited coin or token. The deposited coin or token drops with its lower edge against the long contact pins 38 and 39 and with its face against the shorter contact pins, the coin thus acting as a switch blade to close a circuit for electrically operated driving means hereinafter referred to for controlling the reciprocation of the impeller carriage. As the circuit is closed.

by the coin, the driving means becomes operative to shift the impeller carriage downwardly and during the initial movement the lever structure is swung for engagement of the pressure foot 5; on the lever 5i against the face of the coin and the projection 52' on the lower end of the lever 52 below the lower edge of the deposited coin or token so that the lever structure will assume the support of the coin as the contact and supporting structure is swung away from the coin chute by the further downward movement of the impeller carriage.

During the initial downward movement of the impeller carriage, the foot 23 of the impeller member 26 is released from the cam boss so that the impeller may swing to project the abutment flanges 24 and 25 through the slots 26 and 27 and above the upper edge of the deposited coin or token. Thereafter, during continued downward movement of the impeller carriage, the coin will be shifted downwardly by the impeller member for engagement of the coin with the setting means for the selector mechanism for selection for operation of the corresponding register. When the impeller carriage reaches the lower end of its movement, the coin which has been shifted downwardly will still be held in the coin chute by the lever 52, and retention of the coin is maintained until the impeller carriage is returned to its upper position and the cam roller l3 withdrawn from the cam lever 38 for withdrawal of the lever structure by the spring 55.

The setting means comprises two levers 51 and 58 pivoted at their lower ends by pivot pins 59 and (30 extending from the wall 2. At their upper ends the levers have the abutment fingers SI and 62, respectively, extending therefrom into the coin chute and in the path of the downwardly impelled coin or token C, the final downward movement of the coin by the impeller carrying it between the fingers Bi and 62 for spreading apart of the levers 51 and 58 a distance according to the diameter of the coin or token. Springs 63 and 64 extending between the pivot posts and the levers tend to hold the levers in normal vertical position for reception and spreading apart thereby by the downwardly impelled coin or token. The. spreading movement of the levers by a coin is communicated to a registering selector element in the selective mechanism which will be described in detail later.

As the difference in diameters of various coins or tokens may be comparatively slight, it is desirable to multiply the spreading movement of the levers so that there will be sufficient operation of the selector element. As shown, the lever 51 has a laterally extending arm 65 at its pivot end, to the outer end of which is pivoted a lever 66, the inner end of which lever 6'5 has a slot 6'! for receiving the pin 58 at the end of an arm 69 extending laterally from the lever 58 intermediate the ends thereof. The swing of the lever 51 by the engagement of a coin or token therewith will cause the outer end of the lever 66 to travel downwardly a certain distance, and, at the same time, engagement of a coin or token with the lever 58 will transmit the swing of this lever through the arm 69 to the inner end of the lever 65 for additional downward movement of the outer end of the lever 65. This multiplied total movement of the outer end of the lever 56. which movement depends upon the diameter of the particular token or coin, is transmitted to the selector element by a link m. A spring H extending between. the lever 66 and the bracket 1'2 on the wall 2 tends to hold the lever 66 in upper normal position with the spread levers in position for receiving the impelled coin or token.

The power driving mechanism The power driving means for reciprocating the impeller carriage and for operating the register structure is shown in the form of a solenoid 13, whose plunger 14 is guided in a tube 15 having a slot 16 through which extends a pin ll secured to the plunger. On partition wall 18 within the housing I is a pivot stud '19 on which a lever 80 is pivoted intermediate its ends. At one end the lever has a notch or recess SI for receiving the pin T! on the solenoid plunger so that when the plunger moves vertically the lever Bil will be swung. At its other end the lever has an abutment lug 32 extending into'the notch 83 of an actuating lever 85 which is connected at its upper end with a pin 85 extending from the impeller carriage H3, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid plunger is raised the impeller carriage will be moved downwardly and when the plunger returns the carriage will be restored to its upper position. A spring 36 connected between the lever 80 and the bottom of the housing assists gravity in returning the solenoid plunger to its lower or normal position.

Secured to and extending upwardly from the lever 83 is an 3111187 which coacts with a switch lever 88 within the housing 85 below the impeller mechanism, a spring 90 normally withholding the switch lever from a contact 9|.

A source of current, such as a battery 92, supplies energy for operating the solenoid. One terminal of the solenoid winding is connected by a conductor 53 with one pole of the battery and the other pole of the battery is connected by a conductor 94 with the terminal plate 43 with which the contact pins 31 and 39 are connected. The frame 3! with which the contact pins 36 and 38 engage is connected by a conductor 95 with the other terminal of the winding. Thus, when a coin or token is deposited and received by the contact pins the impeller mechanism, a primary circuit is closed through the solenoid winding, and the solenoid plunger is raised, such movement causing swing of the lever 80 and downward shift of the link 84 with the impeller carriage ill. I preferably utilize the coin or token only momentarily for closing the solenoid circuit, and I therefore provide the swing 88 for relieving the coin of current after initial closure of the solenoid circuit. The arrangement of the switch lever Sal is such that when the lever 80 is swung upwardly, the arm 8! thereon will engage with and swing the switch lever into contact with the terminal 9! to close the shunt circuit 96 around the impeller mechanism contact, the closure of the shunting switch taking place during the initial downward movement of the impeller carriage and the shunt circuit being closed just before the contact pins are withdrawn from the coin during further downward movement of the impeller carriage.

The circuit will be maintained through the solenoid until the plunger has reached the upper part of its travel, at which time the arm 8'! will have passed by the end of the switch lever 88, and the switch lever released for return to open position by the spring 90. The solenoid being then de-energized, the plunger will be returned to its normal lower position by the force of gravity and the pull of the spring 86. The thickness of the coin chute is such relative to the thickness of the coins and tokens that such coins and tokens may be deposited into the chute only one at a time. For each coin or token deposited the solenoid plunger will be drawn upwardly and then released by the opening of the energizing circuit. During the upward movement of the plunger the coin is impelled downwardly by the impeller mechanism, the final impelled movement of the coin passing it between the setting levers 51 and 58 for spreading of the levers in accordance with the coin diameter and for corresponding downward movement of the outer end of the lever 66 and the link ill for corresponding setting of the selector element. During downward movement of the plunger, the impeller carriage is returned to its upper position, and during such upward movement the contact mechanism is returned to position the contact pins for reception of the next deposited coin or token. During the final upward movement of the carriage the roller I8 is withdrawn from the lever mechanism which is then released from the coin or token so that the coin is free to pass on to a receiving chamber for inspection by the conductor or attendant. During downward movement of the plunger the selector mechanism is operated for entry of the coin or token in the corresponding register.

The register mechanism The fare box disclosed is designed for the deposit and counting of cash in the form of pennies,

nickels and dimes, and for receiving and counting tokens, respectively, of one inch diameter, nine-tenths. inch diameter and six-tenths inch diameter. Four registers are therefore provided, the register 9'! counting and totalizing the cash deposits, the register 98 counting the one inch tokens, the register 99 counting the nine-tenths inch tokens and the register I00 counting the six-tenths inch tokens. V

A frame I0! supports the cash register and the nine-tenths inch token register, a similar frame I02 supporting the one inch and the six-tenths inch token register, the frames being alongside of each other to form a rectangular supporting structure.

The various decimal order dial Wheels of the cash register are assembled between the side walls I04 and I05 of the frame IM and surround a shaft I95 journalled in the side Walls and to the outer end of which the units dial wheel I0? is secured. The other decimal order dial wheels are rotatable on the shaft I06 and are rotated in proper sequence by carry-over gears I98 on the dial wheels and carry'over pinions I09 on a shaft H9 journalled in the side walls I04 and I05.

At its inner end and outside of the wall I05 the shaft I93 carries a drive pinion III by which the register is driven. A detent pawl II 2 permits only forward movement of the register.

The one inch token register 98 is assembled between the side walls H3 and III of the frame I02, the decimal order dial wheels receiving a shaft I I5 journalled in the side Walls and carrying at its inner end the drive pinion I IS. The units dial I II is secured to the shaft, the other decimal order dial Wheels being rotatably mounted on the shaft for proper operation by carry-over mechanism I I8.

The shaft H5 is in axial alignment with the shaft I05 of the cash register, and the shaft H5 is tubular to receive a transmission shaft IE9 which at its inner end is coupled to the inner end of the shaft I06 (Figure 14). At its outer end the transmission shaft H9 carries a gear I23 which meshes with the gear I2I rotatable on the stub shaft I 22 extending from the Wall I II, a dial I23 being secured to rotate with the gear I2 I. As the cash fare for which the fare box is designed is seven cents, the dial has thereon the indications 012--34--56, for indicating the cash deposited.

The nine-tenths inch token counting register 99 is assembled between the side Walls I 0 1 and I 05 alongside of the cash register, its units dial IZ I being secured to the shaft I25 which at its inner end carries the drive pinion I26, carry-over pinions I27 for the register assembly 99 being loosely mounted on a shaft I28 journalled in the side walls I and I05.

The dial wheels for the six-tenths inch token register I00 are assembled between the side walls H3 and I It alongside the register 98,.the shaft I29 secured to the unit dial I30 carrying at its inner end a drive pinion I3I, the shaft I29 being in axial alignment with the shaft I25.

The carry-over pinions I32 for the register I00 are loosely mounted on a shaft I33 journalled in the side Walls H3 and I I4 in axial alignment with the shaft I28 and the carry-over pinions for the register 99.

Between the side Walls I05 and MS a coupling sleeve I3 3 is secured to the inner ends of the shafts I23 and I33 to form a continuous transmission link for control of the audible signal mechanism to be referred to more specifically hereinafter.

On a shaft I 35 extending between the side walls I05 and H3 are mounted the transmission gears I36, I3'I, I38 and I39, the gears being individually rotatable on the shaft. The gear I35 meshes with the cash register drive pinion I I I; the gear I3'I meshes with the drive pinion I25 for the nine-tenths inch token register 99; the gear I38 meshes with the drive pinion H0 of the one-inch token register 98, and the gear I39 meshes with the drive pinion I3I of the six-tenths inch token register I 90.

Between the drive pinions I 23 and I3I is located a pinion I99 on a shaft which is journalled at its ends in bearing recesses in the drive pinions, the pinion I00 being in mesh with the transmission gear I38. Extending from the coupling bushing I39 is an arm MI terminating at its lower end in a plate I42 (Figure 6) whose inner edge is in the path of the drive pinions I26 and I3I and the intermediate pinion I 39, a spring I43 tending to yieldingly hold the plate against the teeth of the pinions so that when any of the pinions is rotated the plate will be shifted outwardly and the arm MI swung to rotate the coupling sleeve and the shafts I28 and I33 secured to the coupling sleeve. Counting movements of the nine-tenths inch token register and the six-tenths inch token register are directly communicated by the drive pinions I25 and I3I to the arm MI and the shafts I28 and I33, while the counting movement of the one-inch token register is communicated through the transmission gear I38 to the pinion I60, and thence to the arm I 4I.

Extending from the outer end of the shaft I23 and just inside the side wall I04 is a tripper arm M l having a laterally deflected tripper end M5 which normally holds in inoperative position bell striking mechanism which will be described in detail later. The spring I03 serves to hold this tripper arm yieldingly in normal position, and when any of the token counting registers is operated and the shaft structures I28 and I33 rotated in the manner described, the tripper arm will be swung to release the bell striking mechanism for operation to give audible indication of the deposit of a fare token.

The sounding of the bell for indication of the deposit of a full cash fare is controlled by a pin I 05 on the cash indicating dial I 23 and a lever MI extending from the outer end of the shaft I33. The pin and lever are so arranged that whenever the dial comes to the 0 indicating position, the lever will be swung for rotation of the shaft I33 and consequently rotation of the shaft I28 coupled thereto, and the trip arm Hi l will swing to release the bell striking mechanism.

The selective mechanism The register selective mechanism and the bell striking mechanism are mounted on a closure housing I 98 for the register supporting frame. The selector mechanism is mounted between walls I39 and I50 extending rearwardly from the housing I 53. A shaft I5I is journalled in these walls and secured to the shaft at the ends of its legs is the U-shaped frame I 52. Mounted on the drive shaft between the legs of the U frame, and rotatable on the shaft, are the drive gears I53, I 53, I55, I59, I5'I and I58. The gear I58 meshes with the transmission gear I39 of the register mechanism, which transmission gear meshes with the drive pinion ISI for the six-tenths inch token counting register I 00. The drive gear I5! meshes with the transmission gear I38, which in turn meshes with the drive pinion II6 for the oneinch token counting register 96. The drive gear I56 meshes with the transmission gear I31 which in turn meshes with the drive pinion I26 for the nine-tenths inch token counting register 98.

The drive gears H53, H34 and I55 are secured to a tubular shaft I59 which is journaled on the shaft I5I so that these three drive gears always rotate together. One of these gears, gear I 55, meshes with the transmission gear I36, which in turn meshes with the drive pinion II I for the cash counting register 91. When a nickel deposit is to be recorded the drive gear I55 will be directly rotated and when a deposited penny is to be counted the drive gear I54 is directly rotated, while if a deposited dime is to be counted the gear I53 will be directly rotated, but the rotation of any one of these three gears is trans mitted to the cash counting register, the gear structure being rotated a distance of one tooth for entry of a deposited penny, a distance of five Each pawl is urged by a spring I6I towards the respective drive gear. The pawls move with the frame I52 but the driving connection of the pawls with the gears is determined by certain controlling mechanisms. Pawl controlling means is i associated with each drive gear and comprises a pawl camming member I62 and a pawl releasing member I63, these members being in the form of metal plates rotatable on the shaft I5I. This shaft, which carries the frame I52, extends through a wall I64 adjacent the wall I50 and at its outer end carries a gear I65 which meshes with gear teeth I66 on the hub of a lever I61 which is journallcd on a stub shaft I68 extending from the wall I64. At its outer end this lever has the slot E69 which receives the pin I10 on the solenoid plunger 14.

When the plunger is in its lower position, the lever I61 will be in its downwardly swung position and when the plunger is raised the lever will be swung upwardly. The frame I52 is normally in a horizontal position and will be swung downwardly when the lever is raised by the plunger, and when the plunger moves downwardly toswing the lever down the frame will be swun back to its upper position.

Each pawl releasing member I63 has a radially extending arm I1I provided with a notch I12 in its outer end and when the frame I52 is in its normal or upper position, as shown in Figure 15 (dotted lines), the ends of the pawls will be projected into the notches of the respective releasing members. In such normal position the arms I1i of the releasing members press against the stop projections I13 on the cam members, these cam members having extensions I14 at their inner ends normally yieldingly held by springs I15 against a stop pin I16 which extends between the walls I49 and I50.

Each cam member I62 has a cam edge I11 extending from the stop extension I13 concentrically with the shaft I5I, and these cam edges are normally engaged by the pawls so that the pawls are withheld from meshing engagement with the respective driving gears. Each driving gear hasthirty teeth and for each downward swing of the frame I52 the pawls will travel around one-third of the driving gear circumference or the distance of ten teeth. However, the pawls are held from meshing engagement with the gear teeth, first, by the cam edges on the cam members, and, thereafter, by their engagement in the notches I12 of the pawl releasing members, and the release of any pawl for meshing and driving engagement with its associated drive gear is determined by selective mechanism which will now be described.

An abutment finger I18 is provided on each pawl releasing member at a point substantially diametrically opposite the pawl Withholding ex tension I1I. A short distance above the row of driving gears the selector element is disposed. This element comprises a shaft I19 journalled in the walls I49 and I50 and having a row of fingers projecting therefrom angularly displaced from each other. As there are six driving gears, there will be six fingers, a, b, c, d, e and f, these fingers being in alignment with the respective pawls releasing members I63 for projection into the paths of the abutment extensions I18 on these members. At one end the shaft I19 carries a pinion I which meshes with the teeth on a gear sector I8I which is pivoted on a stub shaft I82 extending from the wall I49. At its upper end the gear sector has a pin I83 for connection with the lower end of the rod 10 extending from the lever 66 of the spreading mechanism associated with the coin impeller mechanism.

Outside of the wall I60 the shaft I19 carries a ratchet wheel I84 having ratchet teeth thereon whose intervals correspond with the radial directions of the selector fingers on the shaft I19. On the shaft I5I, which supports the frame I52, a detent pawl I85 is rotatably mounted, a spring I86 tending to hold this pawl in detent engagement with the ratchet wheel I84. Such detent engagement is maintained until near the end of the downward swing of the lever I61 when an abutment pin I81 on the shaft I5I engages with the hub of the pawl and swings the pawl to disengage it from the ratchet wheel. During the initial upward swing of the lever I61, which corresponds with the initial downward movement of the impeller carriage I0 when the solenoid plunger is raised, the pawl is released from the abutment pin and swung back by the spring into latching engagement with the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse rotation of the selector shaft I19. In the normal position of the parts, before the deposit of a coin or token, the spring 1 I, extending between the upper end of the link 10 and the bracket 12 on the wall 2 of the impeller structure, holds the gear sector I8I in its upper position with its toothed edge engaging at its lower end with the pinion I80 on the selector element shaft, and in this position none of the selector fingers will be in position to be abutted by the abutment extensions I18 on the pawl releasing members I63. However, upon deposit of a coin or token, the link 10 will be shifted downwardly a distance depending upon the diameter of the deposited coin or token and the gear sector I8I will be swung a corresponding distance to rotate the selector shaft for projection of the corresponding selector finger into the path of the abutment I18 on the pawl releasing member I63 associated with the driving gear which is to be actuated for registration of the deposited coin or token.

During downward swing of the frame I52 as abutment M3 on the releasing member corresponding to the selected finger reaches the finger, the releasing member will be stopped (Figure 1'7) but the pawl continues with the frame I52 until the engagement of the end of the pawl With the inclined edge of the notch I72 will swing the pawl out of th notch so that the pawl spring I BI may swing the pawl into mesh with the drive gear (Figure 18), and then, when the frame I52 is swung back to its upper position when the plunger moves down, the gear wheel will be rotated for an operation of the respective register to count the deposited. coin or token. The extent of rotation of the driver gear will depend upon the extent of the cam edge Ill on the corresponding cam member I62. On the cam members associated with the driving gears for the token registers, the cam edges extend substantially for a distance of nine teeth on the drive gears. As before explained each downward swing of the frame I52 is for a distance equal to ten teeth on the driving gears, and the pawls are released from the releasing members so as to drop behind the tenth tooth of the gear.

Now, if a token has been deposited, the corresponding drive gear will be engaged by the released pawl and moved a distance of one tooth before the pawl will encounter the cam edge and be unmeshed from the drive gear, and this one tooth advance of the drive wheel will cause a one point advance of the units dial of the corresponding register. After the pawl is cammed out of mesh it will glide along the cam surface as the frame I52 is swung back to its upper or normal position, and during the final movement of the frame I52 to normal position, the pawl end will glide along the inclined front edge on the releasing member extension III to be returned to the slot I IZ. Those pawl releasing members which have not been stopped by the selector fingers will retain the correspond ng pawls in their slots I72, and will be returned by the pawls to their normal position, all the releasing members then abutting against the stops M3 on the camming members.

For a six-tenths inch diameter token, a one inch diameter token and a nine-tenths inch diameter token, the selector fingers a, b and 0, respectively, will be set and the corresponding drive gear advanced one tooth during upward movement of the frame I52 when the plunger returns to its lower position. When a penny is deposited, the selector finger e will be set for rotation of the drive gear I 5% a distance of one tooth for a one point advance of the cash register. When a nickel is deposited, the selector finger 11 will be set for rotation of the drive gear I55 a distance of five teeth, and when a dime is deposited, the selector finger will be set for retation of the drive gear I53 a distance of ten teeth. As before explained, the drive gears I53, I54 and I55 are connected to rotate together, with the drive gear I55 meshing with the drive pinion for the cash register. The distance of rotation of this drive gear cluster is determined by the selector fingers associated with the respective gears and the extent of the cam edges of the corresponding pawl releasing members.

For operation of the gear cluster to register a penny,'the cam edge on the cam member associated with the driving gear I54 will extend a distance so that after release of the pawl and advance of the gear cluster one tooth, the pawl will be cammed out of mesh. The cam edge on the cam member associated with the driving gear I55 will be of such extent that after the corresponding pawl is released for mesh with the gear I55, the gear will be advanced five teeth before the pawl is cammed out of mesh. The cam edge on the cam member associated with the driving gear I53 is short and the pawl after release and meshing with the drive gear will cause a ten tooth advance thereof before the pawl is unmeshed by the cam edge, the five-tooth advance and the tentooth advance causing respectively the registra tion of a deposited nickel or a deposited dime.

The ends of the extensions I'M on the cam members are deflected to form detents I38. When the pawl releasing members are brought into abutting engagement with the stop extensions I13 on the cam members during final movement of the frame I52 to normal position, the cam members are rotated a slight distance against the pull of the springs I and project their detent ends I83 into the teeth of the transmission gears I3E, I31, I38 and I39 of the register driving train to lock the registers against movement. As soon as the frame I52 starts its downward movement, the cam members will be released and the springs will withdraw the detents from the transmission gears so that the registers will be free for operation. At the end of the downward swing of the lever I67 and upward swing of the frame I52 back to normal position, the ratchet pawl I35 will be withdrawn from the ratchet wheel I84 so that the spring I? may draw up the link 18 for setting of the gear sector 8I and the setting levers 57 and 58 back to normal position (dotted lines Figure 9).

The bell striker mechanism is mounted on the wall I64 on the housing I48 for striking a bell I89 located at the bottom of the main housing I. A stub shaft I90 extends from the wall I66 on which is mounted the disc I9I from which the arm I92 extends to support a striker piece I93. A spring I 94 tends to swing this striker structure toward the bell but such movement is normally prevented by the engagement of the detent tooth I95 by the detent end I45 on the tripper arm I54 already described. During the downward movement' of the solenoid plunger the trip lever is swung to unlatch the striker mechanism and the bell is struck to indicate the deposit of a fare. During the next upward movement of the solenoid and upward swing of the lever I 67, the striker mechanism will be reset to latching position. The resetting means comprises a hub I96 rotatable on the shaft I953 which hub carries a gear I91 meshing with the gear IE5. Between the hub and the disc IBI of the striker mechanism is located a cam plate I98 which is held against movement by its slotted end I99 receiving the end of the shaft I5l on which the gear I05 is secured. On the hub I96 is pivoted a pawl 200 whose end ZII'I is deflecwd laterally to extend across the cam disc and into the path of a resetting tooth 202 on the disc I9I supporting the striker arm. When the striker arm is down the pawl end ZEII will be behind the resetting tooth 202 and this engagement remains while the lever I67 is swung upwardly so that the disc I9I is rotated back to normal position for engagement of its detent tooth I5 5 by the trip lever I M. Just before relatching of the striker disc the end of the resetting pawl engages the cam ridge 203 on the cam disc and the pawl is released from the resetting tooth 262 so that the striker mechanism will then be held solely by the trip lever I54. When the lever It? then swings downwardly for actuation of the selector register mechanism to register a deposited coin or token, the trip lever will be moved to release the striker mechanism and the bell will be sounded. A stop post 204 extending from the wall I50 stops the downward swing of the disc I9I just before the striker piece I93 strikes the bell so that the bell will be struck by the striker piece I93 after a slight flexure of the spring arm I92.

As best shown in Figure 2, the cash fare indicating dial I23 is within the enclosing housing I behind a window 205. The deposits, either coins or tokens, after release from the impeller mechanism, are received in the inspection chamber 206 where they are supported by the shelf 20! for inspection by the conductor or attendant. By means of suitable mechanism 208 the shelf 20? may be tipped for dropping of coins or tokens into a chute 209 from which they may be received by the conductor or attendant. The various registers are visible through a window 2 I0.

I have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the various features of my invention, but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described, as changes and modifications may readily be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

In a fare box, means for receiving deposited coins of different denominations, a register for totalizing the cash value of deposited coins, a driving gear for each coin denomination and a driving train connecting said gear with said register, an actuating member, pawls on said actuating member for driving engagement with the respective driving gears, means normally Withholding said pawls from said gears, selecting means automatically controlled by a deposited coin for effecting driving engagement of a pawl with the corresponding denomination gear whereby said gear may be rotated, and means arranged to withdraw said pawl from said gear after rotation of said gear for entry of the coin denomination in said register.

2. In a fare box, means for receiving deposited coins of different denominations, a register for totalizing the cash value of deposited coins, driving gears each corresponding to one of the coin denominations, a common transmission train for connecting said gears with said register, an actuator member adapted for forward and reverse movement, individual pawls on said actuator member for driving engagement with the respective gears, a pawl releasing member associated with each driving gear, said pawl releasing mem bers holding said pawls unmeshed from said gears during forward movement of said actuator member, selector means controlled by the size of a deposited coin for selecting the corresponding pawl releasing member for releasing the pawl for driving engagement with the corresponding gear at the end of the forward movement of said actuator member whereby said gear will be rotated during reverse movement of said actuator member, and a cam member associated with each gear for camming the driving pawl out of mesh after rotation of the drive gear to enter the cash value of a deposited coin in the register.

3. In a fare box, means for receiving deposited coins of difierent denominations, a register for totalizing the cash value of deposited coins, a plurality of driving gears one for each coin denomination and a common transmission train connecting said gears with said register, an actuator element adapted for forward and reverse movement, pawls on said actuator element for driving connection with the respective gears during reverse movement of said actuator element, a pawl withholding and releasing element associated with each gear and rotatable independently thereof, said withholding and releasing element arranged to withhold said pawls from said gears during forward movement of said actuator element, selector means controlled by the size of a deposited coin for arresting the corresponding withholding and releasing element near the end of the forward movement of said actuator element whereby during final forward movement of said actuator element the corresponding pawl will be released for driving engagement with the corresponding gear, and a cam element associated With each gear for unmeshing the corresponding pawl from the gear after rotation of the gear by the reverse movement of said actuator member a distance to drive the register for entry of the cash value of a deposited coin.

4. In a fare box, means for receiving coins of different denominations, a single register for totalizing the cash value of deposited coins, a plurality of driving members one corresponding to each coin denomination and a common transmis sion train between said driving members and register, an actuator member for said driving members arranged for forward and reverse movement, individual coupling members on said actuator member for actuating engagement with said driv ing members during reverse movement of said actuator member, a controlling member associ ated with each driving member and arranged to withhold the associated coupling member from the driving member duringforward movement of the actuator member, selective stop members for said controlling members arranged to be automatically set in accordance with the diameters of deposited coins, said stop members being adapted to stop further movement of the corresponding controlling members for release of the corresponding coupling members for driving engagement thereof with the driving members whereupon said driving members will be driven during reverse movement of said actuator member for operation of the register, and cam means associated with each driving member for effecting disengagement of the coupling member from the driving member after driving of the register to register the deposited coin.

5. In a fare box, means for receiving deposited coins of different denominations, a register for totalizing the cash value of deposited coins, driving elements each corresponding to one of the coin denominations, a common transmission train between said driving elements and said register, an actuator element for said driving elements arranged for forward and reverse movement, coupling members on said actuator element, a withholding element associated with each driving element and operable to withhold the corresponding coupling element from the driving element during forward movement of said actuator element, selective means for controlling the operation of said withholding means, setting means controlled by the size of a deposited coin for setting said selector means for control of the corresponding withholding means, the control of the selector and withholding means efiecting release of the corresponding coupling means with the corresponding driving element whereby said driving element will be moved during reverse movement of said actuator element for operation of said register, and cam means associated with each driving element for disconnecting the coupling element therefrom after operation of the register to enter the cash value of a deposited coin.

6. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving gear for each register connected therewith by a transmission train, an actuator member having pawls thereon for driving connection with the respective driving gears, said actuator being adapted for forward and reverse movement, a separately mounted pawl controlling member associated with each driving gear and movable with said actuator independently of said gear, and operable to withhold the corresponding pawl from driving engagement with the gear during forward movement of said actuator member, a selector member comprising a rotatable shaft having a plurality of angularly disposed stop fingers extending therefrom, means controlled by a deposited coin or token for setting said selector member for projection of one of said stop fingers the path of the controlling member for the corresponding gear, the projected finger stopping the controlling member near the end of forward movement of said actuator member for release of the associated pawl from the controlling member during final forward movement of the actuator member whereby said pawl may move into driving engagement with said gear and said gear rotated during reverse movement of said actuator member for actuation of the corresponding register to count the deposited coin or token.

7. In a fare box, a plurality of registers for counting deposited coins or tokens, a driving gear for each register connected therewith by a transmission train, an actuator member arranged for forward and reverse movement and having pawls thereon adapted for driving engagement with the respective driving gears, a separately mounted controlling member associated with each driving gear and movable with said actuator independently of said gear and arranged to withhold the pawl from the gear during forward move-' ment of said actuator member, a selector member associated with said controlling members and comprising a rotatable shaft with angularly displaced fingers extending therefrom for projection into the path of movement of the respective controlling members, setting means controlled by a deposited coin or token for setting said selector element for stopping of the corresponding controlling member at the end of forward movement of said actuator member, means whereby such stopping of a controlling member will effect release of the driving pawl therefrom and driving engagement of the pawl with the gear whereby said gear may be rotated during reverse movement of said actuator member, and a cam member associated with each driving gear operable to release the driving pawl from the gear after rotation of the gear for operation of the associated register to register the deposited coin or token.

8. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving gear for each register, an actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction concentric with said driving gears and carrying coupling members adapted for driving engagement with said gears, a controlling member associated with each gear, said controlling members being operable to withhold said coupling members from said gears during forward movement of said actuator member and to release said coupling members for driving engagement with the gears at the end of forward movement of said actuator member, means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selecting said controlling members for operation, and a cam member associated with each gear for camming the corresponding coupling member away from the gear after sufficient rotation of the gear by the actuator member to enter the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

9. In a fare box, a register, a driving gear connected with said register, an actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction concentric with said gear and carrying a cou-.

pling member adapted for driving connection with said gear, a withholding member rotatable independently of said gear and arranged to withhold said coupling member from said gear during forward movement of said actuator member, stop means controlled by a deposited coin or token for stopping said withholding member near the end of the forward movement of said actuator member whereby upon final forward movement of said actuator member said coupling member may be released for driving engagement with said gear and said gear rotated during reverse movementof said actuator member, and a cam member for disconnecting said coupling member from said gear after rotation of said gear for operation of the register to count the deposited coin or token.

10. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving member for each register, a single actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction relative to said driving members and carrying coupling members adapted for driving engagement with said driving members, a controlling member associated with each driving member, said controlling members being operable to withhold said coupling members from said driving members during forward movement of said actuator member and to release said coupling members for driving engagement with said driving members at the end of forward movement of said actuator member, means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selecting said controlling members for operation, and means associated with each driving member and effective in the reverse movement of the actuator member to uncouple the corresponding coupling member from the driving member after sufiicient movement of the driving member by the actuator member to enter the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

11. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving member for each register, a single actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction alongside of said driving members and carrying coupling members adapted for driving engagement with said driving members, a controlling member associated with each driving member, said controlling members being movable with said actuator member and unless restrained serving to hold said coupling members from coupling engagement with said driving members during forward and'reverse movement of said actuator member, selective means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selecting said controlling members whereby a selected controlling member will be restrained from further movement with said actuator member during forward movement of said actuator member, and means whereby restraining of the selected controlling member will cause release therefrom of the associated coupling member and coupling connection of the coupling member with the corresponding driving member whereby said driving member will be operated during reverse movement of said actuator member, and means effective during such reverse movement for uncoupling the coupling member from the driving member after sufficient movement thereof to effect entry of the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

12. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving means for each register, a single actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction alongside of said driving means and carrying coupling members adapted for driving engagement with driving means, a controlling member associated with each driving member, said controlling members being normally free to move with said actuator member and arranged to withhold said coupling members from said driving means during forward and reverse movement of said actuator member, selecting means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selecting said controlling means for restraint thereof against further movement with said actuator member at the end of forward movement of said actuator member, means whereby such restraint of a selected controlling member will cause disconnection therefrom of the associated coupling member and engagement of said coupling member with the associated driving means whereby upon reverse movement of said actuator member said driving means will be actuated, and releasing means associated with each driving means and effective in the reverse movement of the actuator member for releasing the coupling member from the driving means after suflicient movement of the driving means by the actuator member to enter the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

13. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving member for each register, a single actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction alongside of said driving members and carrying coupling members adapted for driving engagement with said driving members, a controlling member associated with each driving member, said coupling members normally engaging said controlling members to cause movement thereof with said actuator member but being held thereby out of coupling engagement with said driving members, selector means for said controlling members controlled by deposited coins or tokens, means whereby a selected controlling member will be controlled for release of the coupling member therefrom and engagement of the coupling member with the corresponding driving member for movement of the driving member during reverse movement of the actuator member, and means effective during such reverse movement for disengaging the coupling member from the driving member after suflicient movement of the driving member to enter the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

14. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving member for each register, a single actuator member, individual coupling members mounted on said actuator for coupling said actuator with the respective driving members, withholding members normally withholding said coupling members from said driving members, said driving members and said actuator member and said withholding members being rotatable on a common axis, and selecting means controlled by a deposited coin or token and effective to control a selected withholding member for release of the corresponding coupling member and engagement thereof with the corresponding driving member whereby said driving member may be operated.

15. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving member for each register, an actuator member movable in a forward and reverse direction, coupling members carried by said actuator member for selective coupling engagement with said driving members, a controlling member associated with each coupling member, said controlling members unless restrained functioning to withhold said coupling members from said driving members during forward and reverse movement of said actuator member, means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selectively restraining said controlling members whereby restraint of one of said controlling members will result in release of the associated coupling member for coupling connection thereof with the corresponding driving member and movement of the driving member during reverse movement of the actuator member for operation of the corresponding register, and means effective during such reverse movement for breaking the coupling connection after sufficient movement of the drivin member for entry of the deposited coin on the register.

16. In a fare box, a register for totalizing the cash value of coins of different denominations, driving members each corresponding to one of the coin denominations, a common transmission train connecting said driving means with said register, an actuator movable in forward and reverse direction, individual coupling members for said driving members movable with said actuator, means normally withholding said coupling members from said driving members, selecting means controlled by a deposited coin and effective to control said withholding means for release of the coupling member corresponding to the denomination of the deposited coin at the end of the forward movement of said actuator and engagement of the released coupling member with the corresponding driving member for operation of the driving member during reverse movement of the actuator, and means effective in such reverse movement for disengaging the coupling member from the driving member after sufficient movement of the driving member to enter the deposited coin on the corresponding register.

17. In a fare box, a plurality of registers, a driving gear for each register, an actuator member movable in forward and reverse direction concentric with said driving gears, coupling members for coupling said gears to said actuator member, a controlling member associated with each gear, said controlling members being operable to prevent coupling of said gears to said actuator member during forward movement of said actuator member and to permit coupling connection at the end of the forward movement of said actuator member, means controlled by deposited coins or tokens for selecting said controlling members for operation, and means effective in the reverse movement of said actuator member and a gear coupled thereto for breaking the coupling connection after sufficient rotation of the gear by the actuator member to enter the deposited coin or token on the corresponding register.

ERNEST H. THOMPSON. 

